Sunday, September 11, 2011

Moore takes big league call from Rays

Matt Moore, the left-handed pitcher who started a star-filled season with the Biscuits, will end it in the major leagues.

The Tampa Bay Rays are adding him to their 40-man roster, and Moore will join the team Monday in Baltimore, wear No. 55 and work out of the bullpen.

The 22-year-old, who led the entire minor leagues in strikeouts in each of the last two seasons, was a combined 12-3 with a 1.92 ERA between the Biscuits and Triple-A Durham this season. He ranked second in the entire minors with 210 strikeouts -- seven off the leader -- and was also second in ERA.

Moore was the Southern League pitcher of the year, despite being promoted to Durham on July 18, and threw the first no-hitter in Biscuits history at Mobile on June 16. Tampa Bay will have to make another move to add Moore to the 40-man roster.

The move is a sign that Tampa Bay feels it is in good position for a playoff berth. After finishing a sweep of Boston today, the Rays are 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox for the AL wild card.

Normally, the Rays don't add top prospects this late because they accrue service time that affects their arbitration eligibility. They did it in 2008 with David Price and reached the World Series.